Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume 71 | Issue 2
Landslides in the Himalayan Region: Drivers, Socio-Ecological Impacts, Mitigation Strategies, and Policy Framework for Sustainable Mountain Development
V. Saio1 and V.P. Upadhyay2
DOI:10.46852/0424-2513.2.2026.18
Abstract:
The Himalayan region is one of the world’s youngest and most tectonically active mountain systems, characterized by exceptional biodiversity, ecological sensitivity, and a high degree of vulnerability to natural hazards, particularly landslides. Increasing anthropogenic pressures, including unplanned infrastructure development, deforestation, rapid urbanization, mining, and unsustainable land-use practices, coupled with climate change-induced extreme rainfall events and glacier retreat, have significantly intensified the frequency and severity of landslides across the region. Recent disasters occurring between 2023 and 2025 have resulted in substantial loss of human life, extensive damage to infrastructure, disruption of ecosystem services, and considerable socio-economic consequences for mountain communities. This review critically examines the major geological, climatic, ecological, and anthropogenic factors responsible for landslides in the Himalayan region and evaluates their impacts on biodiversity, forest ecosystems, water resources, agriculture, and local livelihoods. Furthermore, the paper synthesizes existing structural and non-structural mitigation measures, including landslide hazard zonation, early warning systems, slope stabilization techniques, afforestation, community awareness programmes, and policy interventions promoted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other agencies. The study emphasizes that sustainable management of the Himalayan ecosystem requires an integrated approach combining scientific land-use planning, ecosystem restoration, disaster risk reduction, carrying-capacity assessment, and community participation. Strengthening environmental governance, enforcing land-use regulations, promoting nature-based solutions, and incorporating ecological principles into development planning are essential for enhancing the resilience of Himalayan landscapes and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
Highlights
- Examines the geological, climatic, ecological, and anthropogenic drivers responsible for landslides in the Himalayan region.
- Evaluates the socio-economic and ecological consequences of recent landslide disasters on mountain ecosystems and communities.
- Reviews existing structural and non-structural mitigation strategies for landslide risk reduction.
- Emphasizes the importance of ecosystem restoration, sustainable land-use planning, and carrying-capacity-based development.
- Recommends integrated policy interventions to strengthen disaster resilience and promote sustainable mountain development in the Himalayan region.
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